A desperate Hurst mum is calling for immediate traffic calming measures in the village after three incidents where cars crashed into her front garden.

A desperate Hurst mum is calling for immediate traffic calming measures in the village after three incidents where cars crashed into her front garden.

Liana Neighbour, who lives in Lodge Road, says her two children cannot play at the front of her house anymore because she is so frightened they will be mowed down.

Six year resident Mrs Neighbour has owned The Old Cerdic — which lies on the steep bend of Lodge Road — since September 1995.

In that time, she claims she has witnessed many "near misses" and believes there will soon be a fatality unless action is taken.

On three occasions cars have swerved off the street and crashed into her front gate.

She said: "The traffic on our road has doubled since we bought the house. Its not only speeding motorists that are a problem, it's the weight of the vehicles using the route. Some are just too heavy and large to take the bend.

"I've seen cars in ditches on Lodge Road and we've replaced our gate three times now because vehicles have crashed into it and onto the front

garden.

"I've got two children, one of five and one of two and they used to play in the front garden but they can't anymore."

Cars travelling on Lodge Road are obliged to stick to the national speed limit, but Mrs Neighbour would like to see a 30mph limit imposed.

She added: "I hear the screeching off brakes on a daily basis. The bend in Lodge Road is too steep for the amount of traffic. I've offered to sell the council part of my front garden to widen the road and I've requested a crash barrier, but they just say there's no money."

The problem is so bad, Mr Neighbour has suggested selling the property, but Mrs Neighbour does not want to move.

She said: "It's so frightening that my husband thinks we should move, but I like Hurst and I don't want to.

"One of the benefits of living in a small village is being able to walk around — you can't do that here."

Cllr Annette Drake, who represents Hurst on Wokingham District Council, recognises there is a problem and says steps are being taken to solve it.

A spokesman for Wokingham District Council said: "The council has limited funds for road safety measures and therefore must prioritise where these funds are used.

"Usually this is in the area where accidents are reported which result in injuries.

"Accidents on Lodge Road, Hurst, were reported to the council two months ago, although according to our records neither involved personal injury.

"The highways team looked at the stretch of road concerned and has recently made road safety improvements — changing the road signs, painting warning red patches on the road and repainting line markings.

"We will be reviewing the effectiveness of these in the New Year and deciding whether further safety measures are necessary."